How Deadly Drugs Can Cause More Problems Than The Conditions They Treat

If you have a serious condition such as diabetes or depression, you are likely to be eager to find a drug that will alleviate your symptoms.

The big pharmaceutical companies may appear to want to help you. They spend millions of dollars marketing their drugs and make even more from the drugs, themselves. If you think their main focus is making you better, think again.

Time and time again I have seen drugs come onto the market that can cause more illnesses than they are intended to relieve. In some cases, that miracle drug has proved to be a death sentence. As Virginia personal injury lawyers we help people who have been hurt by dangerous drugs and medical devices.

People trust their doctors to prescribe medications that will help them rather than harm them. However, too often the decisions of a healthcare provider constitute medical malpractice, and the consequences of prescribing harmful drugs can be terrible. Sometimes, it is not the doctor’s fault, as the big drug companies have pushed pills on doctors and the public without telling folks about the risks or the lack of safety testing.

If you have been hurt by a drug, the company may not have provided adequate warming. There are a large number of big lawsuits out there brought by people who have been made sick by drugs. They include:

• Actos — Actos, was manufactured to treat Type 2 diabetes. It has been found by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to cause bladder cancer in some users. Other side effects include an increased risk of heart failure, bone fractures and liver failure. This drug has very serious side effects and should be used as a last resort.
• Zoloft— Zoloft is an antidepressant but its use is very controversial. The drug has been shown to cause weight gain, sexual dysfunction and even lead to suicidal thoughts in users. Zoloft can be harmful to pregnant women and is linked to children’s birth defects.
• Pradaxa — Pradaxa is a blood thinning drug that is used to treat strokes. It has been known to cause unstoppable bleeding leading to death, as well as heart disease and heart attacks.
• Xarelto — Another blood thinner that has been marketed hard in recent years cause uncontrollable bleeding, and is sometimes fatal. There is no antidote like some rival blood thinners.
• Fosamax — Fosamax is intended to treat osteoporosis in bones, but it can cause unexpected fractures, particularly in the legs of patients. Other side effects of the drug include osteonecrosis of the jaw, a condition  known as “dead jaw syndrome.”
• GranuFlo and NaturaLyte — These concentrates are used for hemodialysis treatment for kidney failure. The downside is an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
• Testosterone (Low T) Supplements — Including Androgel, Androderm, Axirom, Bio-T-Gel, Delatestryl, Depo-Testosterone, Fortesta, Striant, Testim and Testope. counter hormonal deficiencies in men caused by medical problems like hypogonadism or disruptive effects of chemotherapy. Low T drugs are commonly used among many men for lifestyle and vitality reasons. The drugs are linked to heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism and other serious side effects.
• Viagra (Sildenafil) — the blue pill for erectile dysfunction in men has become increasingly popular in recent years but it is linked to skin cancer. A 2014 study found that Viagra (sildenafil) nearly doubles men’s risk of developing the fatal skin cancer melanoma. This potential side effect, is not included on the labelling of the drug.

You should watch out for warnings and recalls if you are taking prescription drugs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which oversees the safety of certain products including pharmaceuticals, recalled more than 9,400 products in 2012 including medical devices and prescription drugs. The large number of recalls underscores the very serious hazards to consumers from all sorts of pharmaceuticals and other items.

You may not be aware of the fact a prescription drug has harmed you. If you believe this to be the case, you should contact Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. We can inform you of your rights to sue a drug manufacturer. Call us at 757.455.0077.